The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-20

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meshes OF the muslin almost rs fast as 1t was
let into the receptacle from the gas mains.
This varnish must be so mixed that 1t shall
not grow brittle when dry and thereby crack
of, nor must 1t remain sticky when the big
bag is wrapped up for transportation. The
composition of the varnish Is secret with
the aeronaut, and for that matter each pro-
fessor Of the art of airskimming has a warm
ish Of his own, and none will exchange warm
ish confidence with any other brother profess
sor. For DAYS before the vanishing stage
was reached Mr.. Moore was busy with a great
iron pot In the back yard Of the barn, where
the improvised balloon factory was established
He might have been Rhode Island clam
chowder maker, SO far as appearance went,
but the rich resnous odor from the big cal
dron contradicted this. He poured in gums
and solvents until three barrels Of varnish
had been made to his liking, and then for
day after day the workmen walked with
padded shoes over the stretched out sections
of the balloon-bag and applied the coating.
Four coats In all were to be applied, and as
each bent or portion Of the balloon was
smeared 1t was hung up on a wire framework
to dry and harden. This process is now GO
ing on, and any one who may call at The
World loft, near Clark's Hotel, Winsted,
may see and sniff ad lib.
During this week the ext step In the evolu-
ton Of balloon will be begun. The big net
which overspreads the vast bulb will be woven.
This will be made from special braided cord
made from the best quality Of Barbour's
shoe thread. -Four hundred pounds Of this
has been bought, When it comes to Winsted
1t Is in the smallest threads, tough yet very
fine. MIR. Moore does not care to trust to the
twisting at the factory, so hand-twister Is
employed, and stout cords made slowly but
surely. No broken threads are permitted to
pass, and the result is series of fine cords OF
the minimum weight and the maximum
strength. 1t Is absolutely necessary that the
network should have an even bearing all over
the muslin IL there is bagglness al any one
point or structure producing pressure the con-
tanned gas will press unevenly, there may
come rupture, and then the escape OF gas
would bring balloon AMI riders In a crash to
the ground. SO 1t is that Mr.. Moore has given
his expert net-maker an exact schedule of the
size Of meshes, smaller at the top, where the
gas pressure is greater, and with larger
meshes or openings lower down the side,
where the kuotted cord framework is gather
ed to the sustaining guy-ropes. AT the bot
tom Of the bag, corresponding to the stem OF
the pear, the opening will be about two feet
across. This is left free, as the gas being
lighter than the air, will not escape unless,
owing to the expansion under the direct rays
of the sun In the upper atmosphere, the gas
should be forced ont.
PASSENGER ACCOMMODATIONS.
Having bag and net work made, the next
feature of the whole ar-ship is the carriage
below, in which the crew and passengers sit,
ready to make their observations or enjoy the
trip. Ordinarily this is OF basket-makc, mar
row aud deep, very much in the proportion OF
an eighteen-inch doll standing in an ordinary
peach basket The World balloon will not
have this old flmsy contrlvance. To carry
four men a good stout car is called for, ana
this is provided while the large size Of the
gas receptacle makes 1t possible to carry
heavy box with ease. The box made for the
purpose has been built by a carriage'maker
1t is wooden tank, open at the top, six feet
by ten feet in area about the top rail, and
four feet deep, with sloping sides. First a
framework of light ash was made, each joint
and crossing slotted and each rib let into the
lower sill and upper plate with mortise and
tenon. To the ordinary eye II would look like
croclery crate with a stout rim. II was
built under the eye Of Mr.. Moore and after
the framing was completed came the covering.
This was of one-half inch toDgued and
grooved fine stuff, narrow and selected as free
from knots and sap. Inside and out this lin
ing or ceiling was placed with the streais
running vertically without and horizontally
within. Before this was placed on came the
fixing of the sustaining cords. There are
thirty of these nine on either side and six on
either end. They pass through the upper
plate, or rim rail, and completely around the
box from end to end or from side to side, SO
that II every splinter Of wood should be re-
moved, the travellers would still find them
selves I'm safe network Of stout cords.
These cords are about the thickness OF lead
pencils, but made from the Irish linen thread
and as strong as It is possible to have any
textile material.
The car Is now completed, and as soon ms II
WAS finished Mr. Moore had it suspended by
the cords from stout beams abo.e. Sand to
the quantity of nearly two tons was placed in
Il, and then he and several friends jumped In
and gave the apparatus, so far as Is finished,
as strong test as the actual voyage will give
1t. 1t now rests in a barn on Mr. Moore's
place, while an artist is busy ornamenting its
rich maroon sides with the two hemispheres,
the Goddess Of Liberty and the other headline
insignia Of 1.-THE World" with the words, "7he
"Worldn This viii be duplicated on either
side, whilo the ends will receive an appropri-
ate decoration.
| In attaching balloon car 10 the balloon prop